Miboshi
I wake to the sound of Kuroudo bathing and the smell of steaming rice.
I sit up, rubbing the back of my neck. Sleeping in the tub must have given me a cramp. I stifle a yawn.
I lie back down. Rolling onto my side. The covers are still warm and the air is chill. It is surprisingly cool in the mornings. Even though it is a desert. I pull the covers over my bare shoulders. Snuggling deeper into the warmth. Kuroudo must not realize I am awake. The sound of his splashing is so soothing. I close my eyes, imagining him stepping from behind the screen naked water dripping down a well-muscled chest. I can feel a smile on my face.
[]
I open my eyes. Sunlight is pouring into the room. I must have fallen asleep again.
Directly across from me, Kuroudo is sitting on his mat. Knees pulled up to his chest, arms around them. His head is bent down, I can't see if he's sleeping or awake. Sunlight reflects off of blonde hair.
"Master?" He asks, tentatively. Not lifting his head.
I shift, sitting up. Keeping silent.
"Why?" I know what he means, but I want him to say it all. My silence prompts him to continue. "Why did you save me?" Lifting his head, his blue eyes trap mine. So intense.
'Because I know what it's like to be alone in the world.'
"I just needed someone to act as my man servant." My voice is flat. His eyes harden. I avert my gaze. It had been an impulse to take the boy in. Impulse mixed with desire. So why do I feel guilty for being curt with him?
"Oh." He stands. His spine rigid. "Is there anything you would like?"
I rise, taking a step forward.
My vision blurs.
[]
Stabbing pain. Searing through my chest.
Fighting for control of his mind and failing. The boy's will is strong. Stronger than I would have ever imagined.
Looking through another's eyes I see people over me. A man with a cat, an orange haired boy, crying. Suzaku warriors.
He is killing himself, hand firmly holding my prayer wheel imbedded in our chest. He has me trapped. I cannot escape his mind. We will both die.
Darkness.
[]
I am on my knees. All that is keeping me from falling forward are Kuroudo's strong hands on my shoulders.
I look up, breathing heavily.
Concern is written on Kuroudo's face.
"Miboshi." I whisper to myself, sensing the death of a fellow warrior. I scramble to my feet with Kuroudo's help. Clutching an invisible wound. "Get me a map." I must return to Nakago. He only has three warriors left. "A map with here and Teniao-Lan on it." I hand the boy money. He stares at it. It is too much, but I don't care as long as it can buy the map that I need. "Go!" He lets go of my shoulders. Taking the money he races out the door.
There is a knock.
"Come in."
"Ryo Chuin." Jia enters. Her voice is soft. "My father would like to know if you will be performing tonight?"
"Yes I am." I look at her. "In fact, from now on I plan on having a performance every night." She raises her eyebrows. Surprised. "Would you bring me a brush and paper?" I will need to make a list of supplies.
"Yes." She watches me. A strange look in her eyes. "Where did Kuroudo run off to?"
"An errand." It is a clear dismissal. She bows her head, leaving the room.
She soon returns. Walking towards me, she hands me a brush and paper.
Her hand grazes against mine. Warm. She looks into my eyes. Searching. For what, I don't know.
Standing on tiptoe, she leans towards me. Her lips brush mine. Quickly, shyly. Unsure of herself. Her lips are soft, but unwanted. Very unwanted.
Anger. My hand flies. A resounding crack.
She stands. Shocked. Slowly she touches her check. Pulling her hand away, she stares. A thin line of blood dribbles from her cheekbone.
Tears form in her eyes as she rushes from the room.
I look at my hand. Red drips from my long nail. I lick my finger. I taste the metallic tang of blood.
"Foolish girl." I wipe my mouth. I can still feel her lips on mine. I look in the direction she fled with disgust. "She won't try that again." I shake away my feeling of nausea.
I walk to the table. Sitting down I begin to make a list.
Focusing completely on my task, I lose myself in thought.
[]
"Master?"
I start. I was so absorbed in making a list and planning the logistics of returning, that I did not notice the boys return. Or the passing of time.
"I found maps." He hands me two rolled parcels.
"Good." I look back to my list.
"Master?" His voice intrudes into my thoughts. "They are waiting for you to perform."
I curse.
"Quick, give me a hand." I pull on my overcoat, indicating that he should button it for me. He hesitates before starting at the bottom. I twist my hair, coiling it on my head until it hits me mid-back. He reaches the top button. His eyes are level with mine. I nod. Rushing to the table I smear the paint onto my face. With quick strokes I even the paint out and create my signature design. Stripes of blue and black across my cheeks, a stripe of black down my nose, and a red circle centered on my forehead.
I am ready. I rush to the door.
"Oh," I stop in the doorway, glancing at Kuroudo, "don't forget to have my bath waiting for me." I smile thinly. Tired.
I close the door, leaving the boy alone.
I wake to the sound of Kuroudo bathing and the smell of steaming rice.
I sit up, rubbing the back of my neck. Sleeping in the tub must have given me a cramp. I stifle a yawn.
I lie back down. Rolling onto my side. The covers are still warm and the air is chill. It is surprisingly cool in the mornings. Even though it is a desert. I pull the covers over my bare shoulders. Snuggling deeper into the warmth. Kuroudo must not realize I am awake. The sound of his splashing is so soothing. I close my eyes, imagining him stepping from behind the screen naked water dripping down a well-muscled chest. I can feel a smile on my face.
[]
I open my eyes. Sunlight is pouring into the room. I must have fallen asleep again.
Directly across from me, Kuroudo is sitting on his mat. Knees pulled up to his chest, arms around them. His head is bent down, I can't see if he's sleeping or awake. Sunlight reflects off of blonde hair.
"Master?" He asks, tentatively. Not lifting his head.
I shift, sitting up. Keeping silent.
"Why?" I know what he means, but I want him to say it all. My silence prompts him to continue. "Why did you save me?" Lifting his head, his blue eyes trap mine. So intense.
'Because I know what it's like to be alone in the world.'
"I just needed someone to act as my man servant." My voice is flat. His eyes harden. I avert my gaze. It had been an impulse to take the boy in. Impulse mixed with desire. So why do I feel guilty for being curt with him?
"Oh." He stands. His spine rigid. "Is there anything you would like?"
I rise, taking a step forward.
My vision blurs.
[]
Stabbing pain. Searing through my chest.
Fighting for control of his mind and failing. The boy's will is strong. Stronger than I would have ever imagined.
Looking through another's eyes I see people over me. A man with a cat, an orange haired boy, crying. Suzaku warriors.
He is killing himself, hand firmly holding my prayer wheel imbedded in our chest. He has me trapped. I cannot escape his mind. We will both die.
Darkness.
[]
I am on my knees. All that is keeping me from falling forward are Kuroudo's strong hands on my shoulders.
I look up, breathing heavily.
Concern is written on Kuroudo's face.
"Miboshi." I whisper to myself, sensing the death of a fellow warrior. I scramble to my feet with Kuroudo's help. Clutching an invisible wound. "Get me a map." I must return to Nakago. He only has three warriors left. "A map with here and Teniao-Lan on it." I hand the boy money. He stares at it. It is too much, but I don't care as long as it can buy the map that I need. "Go!" He lets go of my shoulders. Taking the money he races out the door.
There is a knock.
"Come in."
"Ryo Chuin." Jia enters. Her voice is soft. "My father would like to know if you will be performing tonight?"
"Yes I am." I look at her. "In fact, from now on I plan on having a performance every night." She raises her eyebrows. Surprised. "Would you bring me a brush and paper?" I will need to make a list of supplies.
"Yes." She watches me. A strange look in her eyes. "Where did Kuroudo run off to?"
"An errand." It is a clear dismissal. She bows her head, leaving the room.
She soon returns. Walking towards me, she hands me a brush and paper.
Her hand grazes against mine. Warm. She looks into my eyes. Searching. For what, I don't know.
Standing on tiptoe, she leans towards me. Her lips brush mine. Quickly, shyly. Unsure of herself. Her lips are soft, but unwanted. Very unwanted.
Anger. My hand flies. A resounding crack.
She stands. Shocked. Slowly she touches her check. Pulling her hand away, she stares. A thin line of blood dribbles from her cheekbone.
Tears form in her eyes as she rushes from the room.
I look at my hand. Red drips from my long nail. I lick my finger. I taste the metallic tang of blood.
"Foolish girl." I wipe my mouth. I can still feel her lips on mine. I look in the direction she fled with disgust. "She won't try that again." I shake away my feeling of nausea.
I walk to the table. Sitting down I begin to make a list.
Focusing completely on my task, I lose myself in thought.
[]
"Master?"
I start. I was so absorbed in making a list and planning the logistics of returning, that I did not notice the boys return. Or the passing of time.
"I found maps." He hands me two rolled parcels.
"Good." I look back to my list.
"Master?" His voice intrudes into my thoughts. "They are waiting for you to perform."
I curse.
"Quick, give me a hand." I pull on my overcoat, indicating that he should button it for me. He hesitates before starting at the bottom. I twist my hair, coiling it on my head until it hits me mid-back. He reaches the top button. His eyes are level with mine. I nod. Rushing to the table I smear the paint onto my face. With quick strokes I even the paint out and create my signature design. Stripes of blue and black across my cheeks, a stripe of black down my nose, and a red circle centered on my forehead.
I am ready. I rush to the door.
"Oh," I stop in the doorway, glancing at Kuroudo, "don't forget to have my bath waiting for me." I smile thinly. Tired.
I close the door, leaving the boy alone.